Fish&Fly - Adventure Fly Fishing: NASF Conservation Deal Ends 2000 Years of Salmon Tradition
NASF Conservation Deal Ends 2000 Years of Salmon Tradition
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NASF on 02/04/2012 17:36:00
For 2000 years the fishermen of Mudeford in Dorset are believed to have
followed an unbroken tradition of organised fishing to catch the big salmon and
sea trout returning to the Hampshire Avon and the Dorset Stour from their sea
migration.
Thirty years ago the once-prolific runs began to decline. Now, after 20 years of
failed efforts to help nature restore the salmon numbers, the remaining
professional salmon fishermen have decided to hang up their nets.
For the last two decades the few salmon that still make it back to the two
rivers have enjoyed complete protection. The rod fishermen and the commercial
boatmen have carefully returned every salmon they caught in the hope that
natural spawning and concerted efforts to improve the habitats would rebuild the
runs. But the future of the salmon populations of both rivers remains officially
designated as being “At Risk.”
In addition to the research and conservation projects that have been employed
the Environment Agency has maintained a net limitation order for many years and
the two remaining boatmen have helped the researchers and co-operated with every
restraint suggested to them. But nothing has really worked so far.
The order restricting the number of nets is now being renewed and negotiations
began to bring the ancient fishery to a complete end. This has now resulted in a
voluntary buyout of the netting rights funded by a partnership between the
Agency, the North Atlantic Salmon Fund (NASF) and the Avon and Stour Rivers
Association. The netsmen will receive * mutually agreed compensation.
Supporters of NASF, guided by salmon conservationist, Brian Marshall, are
contributing 50% of the money through the Migratory Salmon Foundation, a UK
conservation charity. The Agency provided 25% on and the Avon and Stour Rivers
Association contributed the remainder.
Climate changes affecting ocean currents and the abundance of the prey species
that salmon feed on during their long oceanic migrations have been blamed for a
steep and general decline in wild Atlantic salmon numbers on both sides of the
North Atlantic. There are possible signs of a tentative improvement in many
rivers. Iceland, for example, has enjoyed record salmon catches recently. But
the Avon and the Stour and the Wye, and other UK rivers that like them was once
world-famous for the quality of its salmon fishing, seem to have lost their
capacity to restore themselves naturally. They share this unenviable
distinction with many Atlantic salmon rivers in New England and Canada.
International salmon campaigner Orri Vigfusson, chairman of both NASF and the
Migratory Salmon Foundation, said: “In agreeing to surrender their netting
rights, in perpetuity, the Mudeford netsmen have demonstrated their great
concern for the species. I congratulate all concerned for their continuing
determination to improve the situation. Our participation is another example of
our efforts to return Atlantic salmon numbers to their former abundance. With
the help of our partner organisations about 90% of the commercial salmon
fisheries that were standing in the way of a recovery has been removed.”
MORE INFO
The North Atlantic Salmon Fund, NASF, is an international coalition of
voluntary private sector conservation groups who have come together to restore
stocks of wild Atlantic salmon to their historic abundance. – nasf@vortex.is
– www.nasfworldwide.com
(Orri Vigfusson tel: +354 893 3553)